NIKE, Inc. was founded in Beaverton, Oregon in 1964 by ells a wide range of athletic and casual wear, as well as sneakers, athletic apparel, accessories, and equipment. In the majority of categories, they now dominate footwear sales and are near the top of the global sports apparel industry. They do, however, face competition from the following companies:
#1. Adidas
- Founded: 18 August 1949
- Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Need to know
Adidas (https://www.adidas.com) was established in 1949 by Adi Dassler, who started at the age of 49. He registered Adi Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik and started working in the small town of Herzogenaurach. From humble beginnings to a worldwide success story, accelerated by a miracle. It is the holding company for the Adidas Group, which includes the Reebok sportswear company and an Austrian fitness technology company.
It creates and sells footwear, clothes, and accessories. Apparel, footwear, sportswear, sports equipment, and toiletries are among the company’s main products. It has a significant investment in research and development as well as a strong commitment to sustainability. It uses organic cotton and does not use plastic in its products.
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#2. Fila
- Founded: 1911
- Headquarters: Biella, Piedmont, Italy.
Need to know
Fila (https://www.fila.com) was established in 1911 by two brothers, Ettore and Giansevero, who opened a textile shop in Biella, at the foot of the Italian Alps, selling sewing materials to the locals. The brothers decide to expand their textile enterprise into a knitwear production line, producing fine sweatshirts, scarves, and jumpers, after a decade of notable growth and some gained experience. It moved into sportswear in the 1970s, with tennis player Björn Borg as an endorser. After branching out into sportswear, the brand grew in popularity.
The brand is aimed at a new generation of consumers, primarily millennials and Gen Z, who are the primary buyers of luxury goods. Through all of its brands, it offers sportswear, shoes, swimming articles, bags, and team uniforms, among other things.
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#3. Asics
- Founded: 21 July, 1977
- Headquarters: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
Need to know
ASICS Ltd. (https://www.asics.com) was established on September 1, 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka. He began manufacturing basketball shoes in his home town of Kobe, in Japan. The company’s range of sports activities expanded to include a variety of Olympic styles that were popular among athletes around the world in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. ASICS is best known for its highly cushioned GELTM brand technology and shoes, which were first introduced in 1986. Technology and shoe selection continue to advance.
Asics manufactures and sells sneakers, sandals, and clothing, which include; t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, garments, underwear, and socks. It also produces accessories such as bags, backpacks, and caps. It has a research center where scientists are constantly looking for new ideas.
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#4. Under armour
- Founded: 25 September 1996
- Headquarters: Washington, DC., United States.
Need to know
Under Armour (https://www.underarmour.com) was established on September 25, 1996 by Kevin Plank. Plank started the company in his grandmother’s basement in Washington, D.C. He used to travel the East Coast with nothing but clothing in the trunk of his car. With a $17,000 sale at the end of 1996, he sold his first team. Plank moved to Baltimore from his grandmother’s basement, from where he later moved to his current headquarters in Tide Point after a few moves around the city.
Under Armour’s offerings include athletic shoes, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, pants, leggings, shorts, athletic bras, athletic bags, face masks, and accessories such as bags, gloves, caps, and protective gear. Under Armour also manufactures uniforms for American football, basketball, and soccer, among other sports. Under Armour launched Infrared, a new ColdGear product line in 2013, which claims to dissipate and re-circulate heat around the wearer’s body using ceramic powder.
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#5. Puma
- Founded: 1948
- Headquarters: Hersogenaurach, Germany.
Need to know
The Puma company (https://us.puma.com) was established in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler. Rudolf Dassler and his brother Adolf “Adi” Dassler formed Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik in 1924. (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). The relationship between the two brothers deteriorated to the point where they agreed to split in 1948, forming two separate companies, Adidas and Puma. Currently, both companies are based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and Puma happens to be the 3rd largest sportswear manufacturer.
It creates athletic and casual footwear, as well as apparel and accessories. The PUMA brand has qualities that distinguish a great athlete. It owns Stichd, known for selling underwear and stockings, and Cobra Puma Golf known for selling shoes, clothing, and golf equipment.
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#6. Allbirds
- Founded: March 2016
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California.
Need to know
Allbirds (https://www.allbirds.com) was established in 2016 by Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger. Tim Brown came up with the business idea while serving as vice captain of the New Zealand football team. He was awarded a research grant by the New Zealand wool industry in 2014 to design a sneaker. He then teamed up with Joey Zwillinger, a biotech engineer and renewable materials expert, to launch his idea on Kickstarter. They started working on their process in January 2016 and launched Allbirds in March 2016. The name “Allbirds” alludes to the fact that New Zealand is devoid of native land mammals.
The company sells both men’s and women’s footwear, including running shoes and flip-flops, as well as clothing. Outdoor Voices, and Nordstrom are among the brands with which Allbirds has collaborated to create limited-edition products.
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#7. Converse
- Founded: 1908
- Headquarters: Malden, Massachusetts.
Need to know
Converse (https://www.converse.com) was established in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. The company created the forerunner to the modern All Star shoe in 1917, which it marketed as Non-Skids. Basketball players would wear the shoes, which had a rubber sole and a canvas upper.
Sneakers, skating shoes, lifestyle brand footwear, apparel, and accessories are all designed, distributed, and licensed by the company. It has a large selection of sneakers, tennis shoes, and accessories to choose from.
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#8. New balance
- Founded: 1906
- Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Need to know
The New Balance (https://www.newbalance.com) was established in 1906 by William J. Riley. In the Boston area, the company was first registered as New Balance Arch Support Company, Inc., and then as New Balance Arch Co., Inc. Riley is said to have come up with the name “New Balance” after watching chickens in his yard and demonstrating the function of his arch supports by keeping a chicken foot on his office desk. Hall joined the company as a partner in 1934. Later on, the company was known as the New Balance Athletic Shoe Company.
New Balance produces shoes and apparel for runners, athletes, and non-athletes alike. In addition, the company works with celebrities to launch branded products. New Balance’s running shoes include Fresh Foam and FuelCell lines, which were named based on the type of foam in their soles.
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#9. Champion
- Founded: 1919
- Headquarters: Winston-Salem, NC, U.S.
Need to know
Champion (https://www.champion.com) was founded in 1919 by Feinbloom Brothers. The company quickly signed a deal to produce uniforms for the Michigan Wolverines. The company was renamed “Champion Knitting Mills, Inc.” in the 1930s and began producing sweatshirts. Soon after, the United States Military Academy adopted Champion products for use in training exercises and physical education classes. Sara Lee Corporation purchased Champion in 1989. Champion starts manufacturing wears for Premier League club Wigan Athletic, Welsh national football team, and Greek basketball team Pallacanestro Cantù in 2008.
Champion’s casual wear clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, leggings, shorts, jackets, undergarments), footwear (sandals, sneakers, socks), and accessories include t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, leggings, shorts, jackets, and undergarments (bags, hats, collectibles).